Convert Classic Add-in 4.4 Excel reports

Anaplan offers multiple Excel add-ins, each with multiple names. This can cause confusion when you ask which add-in a user is using or need to switch between products.

There are three add-ins: 

Anaplan XL Reporting detects workbooks created with the Classic Add-in (Excel 4.4) and guides you through migrating them to the current Anaplan XL format. The conversion retains your existing layout and formatting.

• Save a backup copy of your workbook. You can't revert to the 4.4 version after the conversion.
• Install Anaplan XL Reporting. You don't need the Classic Add-in installed, only a workbook that was created with it.
• To confirm that the conversion feature is enabled for your license, select AnaplanXL Ribbon > Tools > Extras > Import > Import Anaplan Excel 4.4 book. 

Anaplan XL Reporting reads the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) stored in the custom properties of the workbook and worksheet saved in the 4.4 workbook file. When it detects JSON saved in the 4.4 workbook, Anaplan XL automatically prompts you to convert it on the next load. You don't need to trigger this manually in most cases.

Steps to convert an Excel 4.4 workbook to Anaplan Excel:

1. Open your backup copy to verify it's intact.
2. Open the original 4.4 workbook in Excel with Anaplan XL Reporting installed.
3. When the workbook loads, Anaplan XL displays a message box informing you that it has detected 4.4 content. Select Yes to start the conversion.
4. Sign in to your Anaplan account when prompted.
5. Wait for the conversion to complete. The workbook now uses the Anaplan XL Reporting format. The Grid menu and AnaplanXLFormats sheet appear.

If you want to convert a workbook without closing and reopening it, use the menu:

1. In the Anaplan XL menu, select Extras.
2. Select Imports.
3. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the conversion.

After conversion, your workbook looks and behaves like a standard Anaplan XL Reporting workbook. The sections below explain specific changes to be aware of.

The conversion retains your original formatting and visual layout by default. Anaplan XL Reporting applies a 4.4 appearance setting that keeps the grid title and combines dimension names with member names in the filter area. This matches the style your users already see.

If you prefer a traditional Anaplan XL Reporting layout — where dimension names and member names appear separately — you can turn off the 4.4 appearance setting:

1. Open the converted workbook.
2. In the Grid menu, select Properties.
3. In the Appearance tab, clear the Use Excel4.4 appearance checkbox.

The grid updates to display dimension and member names in separate fields in the Filters section.

To keep this formatting after a refresh or when you add new members, turn on Apply Formatting in the Anaplan XL menu: Properties > Formatting > Apply Formatting.

Slicers from your 4.4 workbook become workbook slices in Anaplan XL. By default, changing a slicer value doesn't refresh the grid until you select Apply. This gives you time to set multiple slicers before the grid updates.

If you want the grid to refresh immediately each time you change a slicer value:

1. Open the slicer settings.
2. Select the Apply immediately checkbox.

The grid now refreshes when you change any slicer.

After conversion, confirm to make sure everything migrated correctly:

• The Grid menu appears in Excel.
• Your data and layout match the original 4.4 workbook.
• Slicers are present and behave as expected.
• Filters show the correct dimension and member names.
• The report refreshes when you connect to your Anaplan model.